Movie Review – Our Protagonist, Balthazar (2025)

      **Our Hero, Balthazar, 2025.**

      Directed by Oscar Boyson.

      Starring Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield, Jennifer Ehle, Pippa Knowles, Chris Bauer, Anna Baryshnikov, Noah Centineo, Becky Ann Baker, Avan Jogia, David M. Raine, Abby Pauly, and Will River.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      The film centers around a wealthy teenager from New York City who, in an attempt to impress his activist crush, travels to Texas after connecting online, convinced he can prevent a potential act of extreme violence.

      Everyone seeks a sense of belonging. For the titular character Balthazar (played by Jaeden Martell, who embodies the troubled youth archetype with impressive depth), he is a high school student raised in affluence but largely neglected by his politically inclined single mother (Jennifer Ehle), who delegates parental duties to life coach Anthony (Noah Centineo). Balthazar, an outsider lacking friends, leverages his ability to cry on command about school shootings on social media to gain sympathy, attention, or pity.

      Titled *Our Hero, Balthazar* and directed with a thought-provoking urgency by Oscar Boyson (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ricky Camilleri), Balthazar is socially awkward and views the chance to thwart a violent act as his pathway to acceptance, popularity, and a misguided sense of heroism. He is also motivated by the wish to impress his activist crush, Eleanor (Pippa Knowles).

      Meanwhile, Asa Butterfield portrays Solomon, a troubled character grappling with issues like gun violence and addiction while trying to reconnect with his estranged father (Chris Bauer) and exploit a testosterone-boosting product to gain his approval and support himself and his grandmother (Becky Ann Baker).

      There's ambiguity surrounding whether Solomon could become a school shooter, which fuels Balthazar’s distant obsession. Butterfield’s performance is notably transformative, completely shedding his youthful image and showcasing his versatility.

      The narrative is sometimes disturbingly humorous, highlighting the pathetic circumstances of these two characters of varying ages and social standings, while also commenting on the disturbing ways people exploit one another both online and offline. The film leans heavily into the impact of technology and social media, emphasizing the amplified power held by the most sociopathic individuals, especially in the age of AI.

      Remarkably, the filmmakers navigate the uncomfortable truth that both characters can be detestable, instead framing their absurd adventures in a way that doesn’t preach about their shortcomings. The narrative reveals their paths to becoming who they are without explicit judgment, allowing the audience to reflect on their realizations (though the ultimate takeaway is a scathing, darkly humorous truth). This aspect is more pronounced in Solomon's storyline, while Balthazar's backstory remains somewhat vague, leaving the reasons for his isolation and unease in question.

      How *Our Hero, Balthazar* progresses from its beginning is less relevant to this review; what matters is that it provides a chaotic yet grounded and enlightening exploration of damaged lives. The fact that this film was screened at Tribeca last year before *Eddington* was released is both surprising and fitting; it encapsulates a narrative surrounding bored teenagers trying to find a purpose while hoping to engage romantically, yet does so with its unique voice without feeling derivative.

      Admittedly, the film is packed with concepts that may leave viewers feeling certain themes are not fully explored, and alternative narrative paths could have been intriguing. Nevertheless, the journey taken remains extremely engaging, depicting male loneliness, the deterioration due to social media, performative activism, and complicated family dynamics. It invites viewers to both laugh and feel horror in equal measure.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★**

      Robert Kojder